Improvement in hand-propelled vehicles



z Sheets-Sheet 1 'Y W. T.. 80 G. H. HOWARD.

HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLE. $1 ,170,629, Patented Nov. 30,1875.

MPEIERB. PHOTGLITHOBRAPNER, WASHINGTON D c w. T. & e. H. HOWARD.

Z Sheets-Sheet Z.

HAND-PROP ELLED VEHICLE.

zt/MM Patented Nov. 30,1875.

- INVENTOH5.

N-PEYERS, PHGTO-LITHDGHAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFIOE.

WILLIAM T. HOWARD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AND GEORGE H. HOWARD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170,629, dated November 30, 1875; application filed November 17, 1875.

plied, preferably, to exercising and pleasure wagons for children and adults. 1 .We apply a propelling movement to the vehicle unlimited as to length of pull or stroke,

as in rowing, or as in the reciprocating movement given to a weight by means of a cord and pulley, the hand supplying the power, and gravity the recover or back motion of the hand. The recover in this invention, as inIthe illustrations above given, is negative or inoperative in its character as regards the results to be attained, the stroke alone being relied on to effect the useful work as opposed to the incident useless expenditure of energy in the recover.

It will be understood that the momentum of the propelled vehicle, under the influence of the stroke, will be adequate to prevent any appreciable diminution in speed during the intervals between the strokes; while, as above stated, the broad principle herein involved, so

.. far as the movement in itself is concerned, is

not "claimed as a part of our invention, the details and their combinations, employed, as hereinafter shown, in adapting that principle to the aforesaid purpose, form a material part of our improvements.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a side elevation of our invention, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on line or 3 Fig. 3 is a plan of the same. Fig. 4 is an'inside view of one of the wheels, with its attachments. Figs. 5 and 6 show details of the propelling mechanism, in modified or optional forms.

Similar letters of reference show similar parts of the invention.

A represents the body of the wagon, which ner faces of the wheels B B and adapted to engage with and be rotated by clutches E E, running loosely on and independently of the axle G. The clutches E 'E are provided with pawls b, which rest within pockets in. the edges or peripheries thereof, and bear upon the faces of the flanged disks D D in such manner as to produce a combined motion of the said disks and clutches in one direction, under circumstances hereinafter described. The clutches E E are provided with spools b b projecting from their inner faces, around. which spools are coiled the central portions of cords or straps c o, the ends of which are connected to fixed parts of the boat and to portions of the propelling mechanism, as more fully hereinafter shown. The upper ends of the cords or straps 0 0 connect the clutches E E with-levers d d, which have substantially the office or function of the ordinary oars employed in the propulsion of rowing-boats. The lower ends of the said cords or straps are rendered elastic by the insertion therein of lengths of india-rubber, and unite the clutches E E with fixed points in the boat. The levers d d are pivoted at or near the'extremities of outriggers F F, which project from the sides of the previously engaged with the outer edges of the flanged disks D D, thus turning both clutchesEE, and consequently both drivingwheelsB B, through the medium of the flanged disks.

It will be seen that during this operation or stroke the elastic portions-of the lower ends of the cords or straps 0 0 offer, by reason of the stretch given, such resistance as will, on change of motion being given to the levers, reestablish the former positions of the coils, clutches, and levers independently of the driving-wheelsor, in other words, effect the recover. I i I i The use of the levers d d is to effect the forward movement alone of the boat; and, it be coming necessary at times to move the boat in a contrary direction, we have adopted expedieuts for effecting this result.

Weprovide the clutches employed herein with devices whereby they may be relieved from action and their pawls rendered inoperative in the following manner: The spools b 1), before described as extending from the inher faces of the clutches E E, are made capable of a slight rotary motion independently of the clutches, and are provided with lifting-fingers e e, which, at the extreme limit of the recover, or at any part thereof, engage with pins 0 e projecting from the inner sides of the pawls b b, and through slots in the webs or plates of the clutches E E. The independent rotary movement of the spools admits of their return, in the recover, slightly in advance of the rotary movement of the clutches, the fingers e 0 being thereby brought in contact with the pins.

6 e, causing the lifting of the pawls b. The clutches are thus rendered inoperative, and the driving-wheels of the boat may be conveniently revolved by hand, so as to produce the backward movement of theboat. This lifting of the pawls also prevents unnecessary wear of their active faces.

The propelling of the boat may be accomplished bya varietyof clutches or their equivalent; but the appliances above described are preferred by us,as being noiseless and smoother in action than others in which teeth are employed and the friction of opposing surfaces not the actingagent.

As an example of that character of clutch in which friction is not depended on to effect the motion, we refer to Figs. 5 and 6, in which thedisks D D and clutches E E are toothed upon theirengaging surfaces. The backward movement of the boat in this construction is accomplished by moving the toothed surfaces apart by handor lever power.

The steering appliances consist in a wheel,

F, running in a pivoted and bifurcated vertical shaft, f. The wheel F" is turned, with the shaft f, in an aperture cut in the bottom of, the boat, and'is, in a measure, concealed by the seat a. The pivoted shaft is suitably supported in bearings under the said seat.

The ax lefflupon which the wheel I? rotates,

is extended at either side of said wheel and adapted for the attachment of guiding-cords.

g, which lead to the person steering, who occupies the seat a. If one person is to propel the wagon and steer also, the guidingcords are supplied with stirrups for the use of his feet.

As shown in Fig. 6, the recover is accomplished by means of spirals h h, occupying those parts of the axle between the clutches E E and the respective sidesof the boat, the ends of said spirals being inserted into or attached to the inner faces of the clutchesand the sides of the boat. In this modification the stroke compresses or coils the spirals, which, in their reverse or uncoiling movement, pro duce the recover. In addition to this use the spirals may be employed toeffect the engagement and disengagement of the opposing clutches under the required conditions. It

a vertical as well as lateral movement of said levers, thus enabling the'operator to approach the various movements of cars in rowing boats, such as increasing or diminishing the dip,

feathering, &c. The efi'ect of the car action is thereby greatly enhanced. 1

An effective brake may be produced by the addition of a body of rubber or a pad of other material to the wheel sides of each of the handlevers, which pads, by an excessive movement on the recover, are brought in contact with the rims of the driving-wheels, thus braking them.

We do not limit ourselves to the shapeof the wagon-body herein shown, any other common shape being equally applicable to the combination therewith of the system of propulsion herein described.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-.

1. In combination with the body ofa rowingwagon, having a seat suitably arranged for the oarsman, the lateral oar-levers d d loosely pivoted to the respective sides of the wagon, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the oar-levers d d, pivoted at the respective sides of the wagonbody, the cords c 0, for communicatingthe muscular force of the oarsman to the rotating mechanism of the driving-wheels, substantially as herein described.

3. The lateral oar-levers d d and cords 0 0, combined with the cord spools b b, clutches E E, disks 1) D, and driving-wheels B B and their axles, all arranged as parts of a rowing or exercising wagon, substantially as and in the relation herein specified.

4. I The slotted clutches E E, combined with the spools b b, having the fingers e e, and

adapted to operate upon the pins 6 e of the pawls b b, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of the flanged disks D D, clutches E E, provided with the pawls b b, and spools b b, substantially as herein described. 1

6. In a wheeled vehicle, the combination of the oar-levers d d and the outriggers or supports F F, substantially as specified.

7. In a wheeled vehicle, the combination of the oar-levers d d, ontriggers F F, and eyebolt-connections between said levers and outriggers, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. In a rowing or exercising wagon, the lateral oar-levers d d and spools b b, operating the rotary propelling mechanism, combined with coiled propelling and reactionary cords 0 wheel-axle adapted to receive the guidingcords g, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we have hereto subscribed our names this 4th day of November,

in the year of our Lord 1875.

WILLIAM THOMPSON HOWARD. GEORGE HENRY HOWARD.

Witnesses WM. W. TowsoN, W. W. WHARTON, J. B. GREENE, JNo. S. MADDOX. 

